Telford quit reserves league

AFC Telford United’s reserve team have withdrawn from league football for the 2008-9 campaign.

The Bucks second string played in the Central Conference last season. But chairman Lee Carter today confirmed they will not be re-joining for the new term.

“We won’t be entering a league this season because it wasn’t serving its purpose,” said Carter.

“The idea of us having a reserve team is to introduce young players from TCAT into a higher level of football and to give first team squad players who aren’t getting games or are coming back from injury a run-out.

“If you are in a league, you are under pressure to fulfil the fixtures and stick to a rigid fixture list.

“We will still play reserve team games but we will just play friendlies when we need them next season.

“We plan to have at least six or seven games against different opposition and some of the local teams have already said they will put out scratch XIs against us.”Meanwhile, Wolves reserves - who played 11 reserve fixtures at the New Bucks Head last season - have also withdrawn from their league.

But Carter is still hopeful the Championship club will still play an occasional second string fixture at the home of the Blue Square North outfit.

“Not having regular Wolves reserve games will have a slight financial impact but it’s not something we budget for anyway,” he added.

“I have spoken to their secretary, Richard Skirrow, and they will also be playing friendlies. Our relationship with Wolves is still very strong and I’m hopeful we may have one or two of their high-profile reserve team friendlies at the New Bucks Head.”